Testing device for booster-pump dry-pipe systems



i 1,633,107 jme 21 1927 l. W. KNIGHT TESTING DEVICE FOR BOOSTER PUMP DRYPIPE SYSTEMS Filed March 28. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 50 N VE N TOR.

M57 w ,wv/@HT BY Maha?, eZ am fc rifa/nf @la .57 y ATTORNEYS June' 21192'?.`

l. wfKNIGHT TESTING DEVICE FOR BOOSTER PUMP DRY PIPE SYSTEMS Filed March28, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 l N VEN TOR. #Fi nf /f/V/G/f/ 7" nwe-ah;

ATToRNEY.

Patented June 2li, 1927.

maaier STATES PATENT oEElcE.

IRA. W. KNIGHT, F CRANSTON, RHODE ISILAND, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL FIREEXTIN- GUISHER COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OFDELA- TESTING DEVICE FOR BOOSTEBr-PUMP DRY-PIPE SYSTEMS.

Application led March 28, 1925. Serial No. 19,184.

` This invention relates to improvements in supervisory devices forautomatic sprinkler systems and Vthe like. relates to apparatus fortesting sprinkler sys- 5 tems having a soecalled booster pump that goes'into action automaticallywhen needed -to maintain an effective pressureduring, a discharge through one or more sprinklers. Such systems areparticularly applicable to risks Where the municipal water pressure istoo low for eHective sprinkler service, and Where the structure itselfis too Weak tol support a suitably large storage tank. .When theseconditions exist it is nevertheless possible to have sprinklerprotection by insert ing a booster pump-between the lon7 pressure supplymain and the distributing pipes, and by providing automatic controlmeans for starting the pumpupon the happening of a fall of systempressure to a predetermineddegree such as occurs upon the opening fof asprinklerl .by a fire. But as reliability of operation is of the veryessence of a booster pump system and numerous possibilities exist forthe system to get out of order, it is necessary to test the apparatusrather frequently in some manner closely simulatingv a Workingperformance.A vThe expense of expert personal supervision and attendancefor ,such tests isvery great, and. for this reason alone a great manybuildings are still without sprinkler protection.

Itis anv object of the present invention to provide a supervisory deviceby which a boosted sprinkler system may be tested from a remote controlstation at the will of the operator in charge, Without anyone personallyvisiting the apparatus tested. As a measure of maintaining low costs andhigh capable of being grouped with a considerable number of them lin asingle electrical circuit, f

More particularly it eiiiciency it is desirable that such devices be''of areas or leverage, it is desirable that this valve continue` closedand that the air pressure be maintained, vinstead of tripping the valveor reducing' the air pressure to initiate a test, because this saves theconsiderable task of re-setting the Valve and of replacing the air, theformerl requiring personal visit to the system, andl because it keepsthe system ready to respond instantly in case a re occurs coincidentlyWith the making of the test. .Yet the test should be made as conclusive,as regards the power, pump and Water supply, as though a fire wereoccurring, with air pressure reduced and the dry pipe valve opened bythe opening of -a sprinkler. And there may also be advantages in testinga Wet pipe system Without reduction of its pressure.

It is among the features `of the present invention to start the pump bya rise of pressure in the controlling apparatus. This may be broughtabout as though by the opening of a sprinkler', although really there isno, or

nov appreciable, resulting reduction. of pres-v sure in the system. Andin the case of a dry pipe system, the invention also provides for thestopping of the pump during a testbefore the pressure boosted therebygets near-the degree at which it might overcome the air pressure andopen the valve.

Incidentally, the apparatus provides for the transmission of suitablesignals by which the operator at a central station initiates the testand receives automatic report indicating that the sequence of steps inthe test are occurring, or not occurring, as the case ma be.

part of the apparatus disclosed herein is shown in my (so-pendingapplications Serial Nos. 754,847 and 7 54,848, wherein are claimedfeatures relating to the initiation and mainte-nance of discharge whichare not claimed herein. To these the present invention adds a testingvalve, which may be of ordinary solenoid type responsive to' energizingimpulses instituted by the operator at the central station', and which,when e cned, permits How of fluid from the source o pressure to Which-itis connected -(be it the distributing pipes in a wet pipe system oreither the air pipes or water main in a dry pipe known as a differentialvalve.

system) to a circuit closer which brings about the starting of the pump.The increase ot pressure, which normally promptly follows, actuates apressure-rise signalling apparatus that sends a signal to the centralstatlon showing that pressure has risen, which means thatthe pump hasbeen started. Upon receipt of this signal, or earlierif desired, theoperator closes the testing valve, thereby cutting ofi' the fiow'to thecircuit closer; or this may be closed automatically. The Huid thusentrapped escapes through a small vent, thereby permitting the circuitcloser to resume its initial position, stopping the pump. Thereafter theboosted water pressure falls to its customary degree, as water leaksback past the pump packings, a fact which 1s signalled to the centralot'tice by the apparatus. i

lt is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression inthe appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelt exist in theinvention disclosed.

In t e accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a dry pipe booster system with thesupervisory device of the present invention applied thereto and shownsomewhat diagrammatically;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of a dry pipe system like that of Figure1, but modified so that the source of pressure :tor initiating the testis the air side of the system;

Figure 3 is an enlarged View of a detail of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an elevation of a wet pipe booster system, with thesupervisory device of the present invention applied thereto; but withportions of the electrical circuits and apparatus omitted;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary. view of a wet pipe system like that in Figure4, but with the test valve connected thereto on the distriuting side ofthe system check valve; an

Figure 6 is an enlargement of a detail of Figures 4 and 5.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings the water stands in thesupply main 10, the idle booster pump 12 and riser 14 up to the waterclapper 16 of a dry pipe valve 18, at whatever pressure the supply has;the dry pipe `valve chosen for illustration being of the extremelysimple type Beyond the air clapper 20 of the dry pipe valve', thedistributing pipes 22 leading to the sprinklers24 are illedwith air at apredetermined pressure suiiicient to hold the valve closed.

Thewater supply pressure is assumed to be too low for effectivesprinkler `service and may be zero or less at the time of a fire, ifthere are heavy demands upon `it in the neighborhood of the risk, sothat when an effective sprinkler discharge is needed, the booster pumpmustl be started. For re extinguishing operation, when the opening of asprinkler head lets the air pressure down lthe dry pipe valve openswhenever the closing .eect ofthe air pressure on it is less than theopening effect of the water pressure thereon. If the water pressure bevery low, or if it be zero, this comesabout through the action of acircuit closer 44 which responds to .fall of air pressure by setting itsswitch 46 to -energize a solenoid 36 and thus to connect at 38 a power.circuit S that starts the pump, whose action, 1n

turn, raises the water pressure enough to.

open the valve. rllhe water which-then flows into the intermediatechamber will close the usual vent 26, and will supply the system.Incidentally water will How from the intermediate lchamber throughpipe28 to another circuit closer 30 (which through a small.

vent is open to atmospheric pressure while inactive) which responds torise inpressure, and, as shown herein, will close its switch 32 which isin another and parallel circuit through the same solenoid 36 and thuswill hold the solenoid in position to keep the pump operating, so longas the pressure remains up.

As shown in Figure l, the invention provides for the making of a test ofthe system to demonstrate that it is in operative condition, includingthe pumpand its connections for power and for supply, up to the dry pipevalve, but without disturbing the dry pipe valve or the air side of thesystem. A bypassage 48 leads Afrom. the supply main, on the water sideof the dry pipe valve, to the circuit closer 30, connecting with pipe 28beyond a check valve 50 therein. The latter opens freely upon flow fromthe intermediate chamber of the dry pipe valve, but closes against flowthrough pipe 28 from the bypassage toward the intermediate chamber. Thischeck valve (see Fig. 3) has a small vent 52 through it, smal'lenough tobe ineffective when the circuit closer is connected to the main supplythrough test valve 54, in which case the main. pressure is .applied tothe circuit closer30`and operates it; Aand large enough to release thispressure by permitting slow escape of the water to the intermediatechamber and thence through drip lim.

26, when the flow into the by-passage ranged solas to be closedautomatically after an inspector or by a suitable mechanism locatedthere, the water from the supply flows through'theby-passage 48 andpipes 28, closes the check 50, and ,by its pressure closes the switchy 32 of circuit-closer 30. The circuit S thus becomes closed, and the pumpstarted, thereby boosting the water pressure in the vriser 14. yThisrise in pressure is signalled to the central station by a pressurecontrolled dc'vice-58 which sets into operation signalling lapparatusy60 which may be of well known type. That illustrated has a suitabledetent 62 and spring operated star wheel 64 to give a ldistinctivesignal indicating the rise'of lpressure in the particular risk which isbeing tested, to wit: lfrom some predetermined--pressurewhich may becalled a zero.l level for that apparatus but which is above the supplypressure (which varies according to the circumstances'at'each particularinstallation) to some indicated level above which indicated levelv thebooster pump raises the system, when it is operating. Upon receipt ofthis signal 'from 60, the

inspector may send another impulse along the line- L to'close thetestvalve 54; or the latter-may have been constructed andara predeterminedinterval of time after Opening, or coincidently with the operation oflthe pump starter. vvIn 'either event, its closing cults off the flow tothe circuit closer 30, and thewater thus trappedbeyond it and above thecheck valve 5()v escapes through the small vent 52 thereby lowering Atoatmosphere the pressure on the circuit closer 30 so that the latter ispermitted to assume its initial positiom'whereupon the solenoid cir--pcuit 36 will be' de-energized, its armature will fall, and thecircuit'through the lrheo'-` -stat 40 be broken. In consequence theypump will stop and'the boosted pressure lin the riser -14 will graduallyfall as the Water therein leaks away through the pump glands, (theybeing tight enough to hold the normally low suppliypressure, andflooseenough to permit slow eakage of the "boosted-'pressure) and such fallwill be signalled bythe apparatus 60.

In operation, in the event of a sprinkler opening and the air pressurefalling in the p ipes 22, a signal is sent to lthe central vstation by adevice 66 responsive topressure` fall. This device closes the circuitwhich actuates the signalling apparatus 68, similar in detail andfunction to apparatus 60 but adapted to send a dilferent signal,'indicating that the pressure in the airy pipes has fallen. As the testingdevicedoes not reduce pressure in the system, a test of the pump andconnections as herein described sends no signal by this lapparatus 66;and the arrival of a slgnal from it indicates the opening of vl'asprinklerhead or other relief for pressure., usually signifying a fire.'If,

thereafter, within a reasonable time, a signal arrives from ap aratus60, the observer is linformed that t e pump has gone into action and hasboosted the supply pressure .to

extinguish thel fire. v The operation, as disthewater valve 54, whichunder all ordinary circumstances will be'supplied with water at leastequallin atmosphericV pressure. This should start t e ump, producing arise-ofpressure signal rom apparatus 60. If no such signal is received,it will show that the apparatus hasl failed to initiate thel pumpactlon, or, at least, that vsomething' is out of order. But the receiptof suchv a signal Shows that everything is in working order, up to thedry p1pe'valve'.

In Figure 2 the testing apparatus is also shown applied to a dry pipesystem, but

of pressure supply or initiating the st of the water system. .Thepassage 48 through test' valve 54 leads from the air riserg 22A to thepipe 28 beyond the valve 50, the latter having the vented check asbefore described whereby the `circuit closer 30 is normally underatmospheric ressure. Upon the openin of the test va ve 54, pressure ofair from t je sprinkler system sets the circuit Closer 30 in operativeposition, and so starts the pump. Thequantity' of air taken will notf'appreciablyreduce the system pressure. After the test valve 54 isclosed, the air pressure in the circuit closer 46 1 will escape throughthe vent, 50, 52, 26. This arrange# ment can be used in cases wherethe'pressure in the water sup ly is or may possibly be zero,-as where te ump-cl2 o erates -on a low level supply, sucli as a pon -In' Figures4, 5 and 6 the invention is shownv as 'applied to a wet pipe boostersystem in which the distributing pipes 22 are entirely filled withywater at supply pressure, and there is at 44 a ressure operated yswitchwhich closes upon all of the system pressure to a predetermined degree,such as ollows the opening of a sprinkler, and is vso constructed thatit thereafter remains For-test of t e booster pump and sup-plyconnections under these circumstances, a second circuit closer 30, wiredin parallel -with the switch 44 and responsive to pressure rise, isconnected with the system on the supply side of the usual system'checkvalve ump, until .here thel a1r filled pi es constitute the peourcewhich may be an alarm valve, by pipey 48 through the normally closedtest valve 54. This closer is vented to atmosphere through an outlet 50having a restricted Vent 52- (see Figure 6) preferably close by the'circuit 'closer 30. To ascertain that the electrical circuits and pumpoperating apto com lete' the circuit that energizes the solenoi .switch37.. lThe pump 12 starts and boosts the system pressure, and this'result is 'signalled to the operator by device 58,

who thereupon 4closes thetest valve 54, unless automatic means have\been provided.4 The pressure then remaining in the pipe 48 beyond thevalve falls as the water escapes through the vent '52 until the lcircuitcloser 30 resets itself to break the circuit its closing previouslymade. The pump is thereupon stop ed and when the boosted pressure hasleake away through the pump glands the return of the system pressure tonormal will be indicated to the central oiice by another signal throughdevice 58.

In Figure 5 the pipe 48 is shown connected with the system on thedistributing side of the check valve 70, in which arrangement the testvcan be made even thou `h the opera tion' of lire en ines in thevicinity'may have drawn down t e supply lpressure in pipe 14 to zero .orbelow, it being understood that there is usually a quantity of airtrapped in a wet pipe distribution system which will maintain a pressuretherein against the check valve -70. Otherwise the action of the systemand testin apparatus is' identical with that previous y described inconnection with Figure 4.

.Although described particularly in its aplication to sprinkler systems,the invention 1sv adapted for testing any system employing a normallyuiescent pump which operates automatical y to restore a predeterminedtluid pressure condition.

I claim as my invention:

/1. Supervisory testing apparatus for a system having a booster pumpvcomprising, in combination with the system, a device adapted to respondto rise of pressure toestart the pump, and means operable independentlyof. the operation of the system for admitting pressure to said device.

2. Supervise testing .apparatus for a system having a oosterpumpcomprising, in combination, a device'a apted to respond -to rise ofpressurev to start the pump; a test valve operable independently of theoperation of the system for admitting pressure to said device; and arestricted vent for said device adapted upon closure of said valve'torelease said pressure and thereby stop the pump. f Y 3. Supervisorytesting apparatus for a system having a. booster pump comprising, incombination, a- Adevice connected to the system and adapted. to respondto rise of pressure to start 'the pump; a test valve inv said connectionfor admitting pressure to said device; and meaiis operable independentlyof the o eration of said system for opening said va ve.

4. Supervisory testing apparatus for a sprinkler system having -a supplyvalve, seated bypressurein the distributing pipes, and a booster pumpbetween the supply main and said valve, comprising, inv combination, a.device, connected with the system on one side ofA said valve, adapted torespond to rise of pressure to start the pump; a test valve in saidconnection, for admittin pressure to said device; and means opera. leindependently of-operation of said system for controlling the testvalve. 'v

5. Supervisory testing apparatus for a dry pipe sprinklerv system havinga booster pump between the `supply main and the dry pipe valvecomprising, in combination, a

device connected with a vented intermediateI chamber of said valve .andadapted to respond to rise of pressure to start thepump; aby-passagepast said chamber from the system on one side of' the d l pipe valve tosaid device; and means opera le independently of the operation of thesystem for admitting pressure through the. by-passage to said device;there being meansin the connection' between the device and theintermediate chamber, for restricting the flow of by-passed pressure tothe chamber.

6. Supervisory testing apparatus for a dry pipe sprinkler system havinga booster pump between the supply main and thedry pipe valve,comprising, in combination, a device connected with avented'intermediate chamber of said valve and adapted to respond to riseof pressure in said chamber to start the pump; ,a ny-passage past saidchamber from the system on one side'of the dry pipe valve to saiddevice; and means operable independetly 'ofthe operation of the s stemfor admitting ressure through the y-passage to said device; there beinga check valve in the connection between the device and the intermediatechamber having a restricted vent whereby theby-passed pressure is heldback from' said intermediate chamber to cause startingv or said pum?,and upon shutting oil r of the Alay-passage. om .the system is releasedthrough said intermediate chamber to atmosphere to stop the pump.

7. Supervisory testing apparatus for a ist sprinkler system having abooster pump and f an electrical power circuit controlling thepumpisoperation; 4comprising 1n combination, a device, constituting apart of said circuit, adapted to respond to rise of pressure to set saidcircuit 'to starrt thepump; a connection from said device to the system;a

valve normally closed, controlling said co11` nection, having electricalconnections with the said power circuit for the operatingof the valve;anda supervisory circuit from ae distant point controlling the part ofsaid power circuit which operates the valve, 10 whereby the valve may beoperated from said distant oint.

Signe a't Providence, Rhode Island, this 17th day of October, 1924.

IRA W. KNIGHT.

